AAU Wrap-Up Player Analysis: Team Factory Gold 17U

<p>The next squad up in our team-by-team series of Nebraska grassroots programs is Team Factory Gold 17U. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="946019" first="Brendan" last="Buckley"] - 6’3" SG</strong></p> <p>Brendan has showed great development from his 2019 season at Creighton Prep, specifically as a ball handler and playmaker. His excellent spot-up shooting is not a revelation, but it is better than ever. He still is not the best mover on the court but he is efficient with his strides which allows him to get past his man, where he can use his length to score at the basket. His passing off the dribble was the biggest improvement he made and I am excited to see how Buckley uses his newfound skills for Creighton Prep this season.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1007526" first="Justin" last="Sitti"] - 6’0" PG</strong></p> <p>I don’t think I’ve seen a player get the ball lower to the floor on a crossover than Sitti, Buckley’s fellow Creighton Prep and Team Factory Gold teammate. It is his go to move on the perimeter and he will occasionally break it out a second time in the paint after he finds initial penetration. If he could dedicate some focus and time on strength and conditioning, I think it could really unlock some of this athleticism and potential. His bend isn’t great at his waist always and lacks the explosion I think we can expect from him. I really enjoy his slipperiness off-ball, where he found himself wide open off a well-timed cut. </p> <p><strong>Joe Chouinard - 6’3" Wing</strong></p> <p>A player to keep an eye on this fall and winter would be Joe Chouinard. He’s effective at getting to the basket using his strength. He has shown noticeable development in his jump shot since before the summer. He now has a more direct, speedier motion and he got rid of a small hitch he had in years previous. His feet move well on both ends and just really understands how to move around the court. I don’t think this will be the last time I write about this player going forward.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="946021" first="Jack" last="Cooper"]</strong><strong> - 6’6" PF</strong></p> <p>At 6’6", Jack was a key floor-stretcher for Team Factory Gold this summer. He featured a reliable 3-point shot, and paired with it above-average shot-blocking and sometimes effortless rebounding. He was determined to find early post position and keep it. Midland came through with his first offer over the summer and I anticipate some more attention coming his way. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="890481" first="Charlie" last="Fletcher"] 6’1" CG</strong></p> <p>I don’t know what the numbers say for Nebraska prep shooters, but [player_tooltip player_id="890481" first="Charlie" last="Fletcher"] has one of the smoothest strokes in the metro. His high-arcing defense buster kept teams on edge all summer, and consistently made opponents pay for defensive miscues. He has a very sturdy base which allows him to shoot from all balance points and boosts his shooting consistency. It also helps his dribble drive game. He won’t blow past many defenders in a straight line, so he utilizes a bevy of moves such as spins, pivots, and the occasional euro-step to finish inside. Fletcher was physically impressive when I watched him play this summer. Fletcher is another guy from this group who I expect to boost his profile this fall and winter.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="890509" first="Kyle" last="Pelan"] - 6’4" PF</strong></p> <p>The last player from Team Factory Gold I will examine played with possibly the most energy on the team. If I applied those standards to his Mt. Michael squad, [player_tooltip player_id="890509" first="Kyle" last="Pelan"] might take home the award for the Knights, too. He runs the floor with conviction, showing great speed and agility for his size. He finishes creatively with both hands. On defense, he expends lots of effort but lacks some on-ball skill. He really shines off-ball, mucking up passing lanes and reading the ball handler’s eyes.</p>